Tag Archives: turtles

Next we were off to the Tobago Cays. This is an amazing place, surrounded by the Horseshoe Reef and is a National Park. They charge 10 EC (about $4) per day per person to be here and it is well worth it. The water south of the island called Baradel is roped off as turtles like to eat the grass just off it. Swimming with the turtles is an amazing experience and we saw lots!! Because we anchor close to this island, turtles pop out of the water on a regular basis to look at us.We had several snorkels, on different parts of the reef and saw lots of the usual fishes. There was one that was new to us, the Scrawled Filefish, and Leah captured it on camera for us.
We went to shore on Petit Bateau for a local barbeque of fresh lobster with all the trimmings. We didn’t think we could eat all the food they provided but we made short work of it!
We had to go back to Union Island to check out of St Vincent. The next day we had a great sail back to Grenada, and we spotted a large leatherback turtle, the first we had seen at sea in over 13,000 miles.

We left Bequia on March 28th heading for Grand Bay in Canouan, one of the Grenadine Islands. As we motored out of the mooring field we discovered where the birds spend their nights! I don’t think we have ever seen so many birds residing on one boat before. It was nice to see them as birds are not that prolific in the Caribbean. We had nice wind leaving the bay and were able to sail out wing-on-wing.Once we headed south, the winds started to pick up and we encountered several squalls. I actually got a good picture od one approaching before things had to be stowed for the higher winds.
We had a nice snorkel in Grand Bay on Canouan. We are pleased with the variety of fish that we are seeing. I am sorry to report that my underwater camera has died so no more shots this year below water! The next day we sailed to the Tobago Cays and picked up a mooring ball. Turtles came to say hello almost immediately. I still can’t believe how beautiful the water is here! We had a great snorkel along the Horseshoe Reef and then over to Baradel (commonly referred to as Turtle Island). At Baradel we saw with many turtles, one had a shell at least four feet long. We had paid for 2 nights in the marine park and on the mooring ball. Unfortuntately charter boats come in late in the afternoon and anchor way too close for comfort.
So we left on March 30th and sailed to Chatham Bay on Union Island. Our friends on Kardia met us there we had a nice visit with them before they headed north for Bequia race week and we sailed to Grenada.
We had to go to Clifton, the main town on the island to check out of St Vincent. Instead of taking Snowaway over we hired a local to take us there in his motor boat. While there we checked out the veggie market. When we were here last year in May the town was very quiet and none of these stalls were open. Richard had fun stockin gup on local fruits.
We will be sailing down the windward side of Grenada to St David’s Harbour on the south east part of the island tomorrow.